Warning: session_start() [function.session-start]: open(/home/content/72/5046072/tmp/sess_6ihq78602n6sgl3p94qmh8v7j7, O_RDWR) failed: No such file or directory (2) in /home/content/72/5046072/html/wp-content/plugins/email-posts-to-subscribers/email-posts-to-subscribers.php on line 35

Warning: session_start() [function.session-start]: Cannot send session cookie - headers already sent by (output started at /home/content/72/5046072/html/wp-content/plugins/email-posts-to-subscribers/email-posts-to-subscribers.php:35) in /home/content/72/5046072/html/wp-content/plugins/email-posts-to-subscribers/email-posts-to-subscribers.php on line 35

Post navigation

It was reported today that Mayor de Blasio is proposing a significant expansion to an earlier announced plan to protect the City’s industrial businesses. This new proposal would require all hotels in all manufacturing zones City-wide to obtain discretionary special permits. In November of last year, the Mayor, with the support of key members of the City Council called for new zoning restrictions which focused on protecting the City’s 21 Industrial Business Zones (IBZs), including a ban on rezoning IBZ land for residential use and the elimination of as-of-right development of hotels in these areas.

The Mayor’s new plan now calls for requiring all hotels in all manufacturing zoning districts throughout the City, where such hotels are now permitted as-of-right, to obtain a special permit under the City’s Uniform Land Use Review Procedure (“ULURP”). ULURP, which requires approval from both the City Planning Commission and the City Council, is a lengthy, complex and uncertain process, which can easily add up to two years to the development process.

Creation of this hotel special permit will require an amendment to the New York City Zoning Resolution. It was reported that the anticipated timeline for creating the special permit is one year; though it is possible it could be accomplished in less time. The creation of this City-wide special permit is heavily supported by the New York City Hotel and Motel Trades Council, and it is reported that key City Council Members have signed to the expanded plan.

Hotel projects already underway and those planned on affected sites are able to vest the right to be built without a special permit if they secure a building permit based on a complete set of building plans and fully construct their foundations prior to the enactment of the amendment.

We are actively following this proposal and will keep you updated. Should you have any questions generally, or about a specific project site, please contact:

In the Zone: Biggest Changes coming to New York

Mitch Korbey will speak on a panel that will consider zoning changes made under the Bloomberg and de Blasio administrations, which are enhancing real estate development opportunities in the Midtown East area of Manhattan and New York City’s outer boroughs. For more information, click here.

November 1, 2016

Speakers Include:

Bennet Dunkley (Principal, Vice President, Helpern Archtects)

Robin A. Kramer (Duval Stachenfeld)

William Silverman (Managing Director / Group Head of Investment Sales, Hodges Ward Elliott)

On Thursday October 27th Mitch Korbey, Chair of Herrick’s Land Use & Zoning Practice, lead a conversation with Shibber Khan (Criterion Group), Seth Pinsky (RXR), Rachel Loeb (World Wide Group), Steve Klein (Brickman) and Elizabeth Lusskin (President, LIC Partnership) on The Stabilization of a “New” Community for Bisnow.

On location in LIC, the panel covered the progress and the challenges of the development of the three distinct sections of the neighborhood. Development of true mixed-use buildings, street art, safety and the walk-ability of the neighborhood were all covered by the excellent speakers. It clear to see that development continues in this ever growing “new” neighborhood. Click here for Bisnow’s full coverage of the event.

On Thursday morning October 27th, Mitch Korbey will be moderating a panel on the State of the Market in LIC at Bisnow’s fall event. Speakers include Shibber Khan (Criterion), Seth Pinsky (RXR), Rachel Loeb (World Wide) and Steve Klein (Brickman).

“It’s a solid, growing residential community and it can field a team with the Mets players living there, but it needs to mature as a live/work community, and I’m not sure it’s there yet,” he tells Bisnow.

Mitch Korbey will moderate a panel at Bisnow’s Long Island City State of the Market. Panelists at the annual event will explore the challenges, excitement and market forces behind the meteoric rise of Long Island City. For more information, click here.

The Young Jewish Professionals hosted their annual Real Estate Deal Makers Summit at Herrick’s offices on November 4th. The YJP is a non-profit based in New York and focuses on providing business and networking opportunities for the new generation of Jewish Business leaders. The Real Estate Dealmakers Summit brought together high-profile panelists and industry luminaries at exclusive roundtable events which allowed attendees to gain direct access to leaders in the industry.

Belinda Schwartz, Chair of Herrick’s Real Estate department, held a “fireside chat” with Ziel Feldman, Chairman and Founder of HFZ Capital Group. Ms. Schwartz and Mr. Feldman were keynote speakers at the event.

Ziel Feldman and Belinda Schwartz

Ms. Schwartz asked, “What important skill, or set of skills, should a real estate professional have in order to be successful?” Mr. Feldman responded, “You have to know the trends, nationally and internationally. You also have to know your customer, whether it’s a tenant or buyer, it’s important to know the goals of your customer for every transaction.”

In response to the question about how to handle a busy schedule and extensive network, Mr. Feldman said, “I am lucky. I have two sons who entered the business. I think the main thing is to know when to delegate. You need to have good partners you can rely on which means you need to know how to surround yourself with people you can trust. There has to be a balance. Work isn’t everything. There should be a healthy balance of family, charity and work.”

When asked to discuss one of the most exciting deals he has ever worked on, Mr. Feldman said, “The Rock & Roll amusement park in Myrtle Beach. It was a great concept but it failed. We opened in the summer of ’08 and, because it was in Myrtle Beach, people would drive to the park. That summer, gas prices were insane so we were doomed from the start. Thus my point of knowing the market, studying trends and knowing your customers!”

“What do you worry about?” asked Ms. Schwartz. “Supply and demand mostly,” commented Mr. Feldman, “Places like San Francisco and Miami are economically as healthy as they have ever been. New York’s population continues to grow. There is a huge demand for housing. I am concerned about the aggressive underwriting that leads to downward pressure on pricing. It can become a self-prophesizing cycle. Real estate like art is a commodity.”

“With all this taken into account, how does one become Ziel Feldman?” enquired Ms. Schwartz. Laughing, Mr. Feldman replied: “You have to do it for as long as I have! But on a serious note, it is way more challenging to create wealth in the tri-state than in used to be in the past. You have to be a student of global economics, currencies, demographics and movements in other countries. What happens in China could affect a deal you are working on here, right down to affecting the cost of the drywall you are putting into your building. All these factors come into play.”

In closing, Ms. Schwartz asked what it takes to be a good leader. Mr. Feldman responded: “A leader has to be likeable and have the ability to delegate to people who are capable of carrying out your vision. You cannot create a successful development company and run it as a one-man show. It’s also a lot about luck. Sometimes being in the right place at the right time can make all the difference.”

Bisnow hosted their 4th annual “State of Brooklyn” event at 1 Hanson Place. The former Williamsburgh Savings Bank Tower, one of the borough’s architectural icons, was recently acquired by Madison Realty Capital and has been transformed into retail space that boasts 60-foot vaulted ceilings, an ornate Art Deco interior and impeccable architectural detail throughout. This year’s event boasted over 500 registrants.

Mitch Korbey, Chair of Herrick’s Land Use & Zoning Group, and self-professed “zoning geek” moderated the panel entitled: “How to Succeed in the Face of Tremendous New Development.”

Panelists included:

Ofer Cohen, Founder & President, TerraCRG

David Kramer, Principal, Hudson Companies

Ronnie Levine, Senior Managing Director, Meridian Capital Group

Jason Muss, Principal, Muss Development

Susi Yu, EVP of Development, Forest City Ratner

Mitch noted that Brooklyn now has 2.5 million residents and that the borough is bigger than Philadelphia by over 1 million people. He asked the panelists, “With Brooklyn being its own city, how do you feel about the current marketplace?”

Ofer Cohen responded, “Brooklyn has been going through a 25-year transformation and I believe we are in the middle of it right now. I don’t think a small economic pick-up can stop this borough now.” David Kramer added, “2003 was our first big project in DUMBO. Using baseball analogies, different areas in Brooklyn are in different innings of the game. Some say Williamsburg is in the 9th inning but we are working on a project there now. Sunset Park is just starting their first inning. It’s a complicated but exciting story.” Susi Yu said, “There is a residential boom in Brooklyn because people want to live where they work. Brooklyn is a 24/7 city where people want to live, work and shop. Manhattan used to be considered ‘the city’ but now Brooklyn is a city on its own.”

In response to Mr. Korbey’s question about supply, demand and saturation in the borough, Jason Muss explained, “We are only now approaching the population Brooklyn had in 1957. If people think there is not enough room in Brooklyn, that is just absurd. Upzoning is what the city is doing to accommodate the population. There is room here. The technology in tall buildings has advanced so dramatically in just the last three years! Brooklyn is its own animal. There is plenty of room for development, even now.” Mr. Korbey agreed, “Density is a good thing. It’s even good for the environment. The taller the buildings the smaller the impact on ground areas and less of the environment is impacted. We have grown accustomed to living in small spaces.” Ronnie Levine added, “I don’t think that it is so much an issue of supply, as it is an issue of affordability.” Ms. Yu then said, “There are very big issues with affordability. We do not want to be faced with middle income families leaving. The diversity of this segment of the market is what makes Brooklyn great. These people are the pulse of Brooklyn.”

On the question of a favorite or most impressive project in Brooklyn, Ms. Yu and Mr. Muss both agreed that Brooklyn Bridge Park is one of Brooklyn’s greatest triumphs. Mr. Cohen chose Industry City and Mr. Levine mentioned the transformation happening in South Williamsburg.

The discussion concluded with a question from the audience about whether Sunset Park would be a good investment. Mr. Cohen responded, “Sunset Park has not gentrified as quickly as Bushwick and Bedstuy and I am not sure why, because transport is quite adequate in the area. I believe though, that Industry City will be a strong catalyst to create new energy in Sunset Park in the next 2 to 3 year cycle.”

Herrick and the Columbia College Fund Development Council hosted a panel discussion on trends in real estate on October 28th. The Columbia College Fund raises unrestricted funds to support undergraduate students in the areas of financial aid, student services, the Core Curriculum, and internship stipends.

Columbia grad and Chief Investment Officer of Pip Alliance, Ted Schweitzer, welcomed everyone to the event. Panelists discussed rising rents in the city, real estate opportunities outside of Manhattan and the effects of affordable housing on the market. Christina Ying, a partner at Herrick, moderated the panel.

Panelists included:

Richard Froehlich CC’85, Chief Operating Officer, EVP and General Counsel, New York Housing Development Corporation

Christina Ying asked panelists whether they believed that rents would level off or continue to rise in 2016. “Generally speaking, the market is in a state of transition. The market peaked in the first quarter of 2015. I really believe we reached the top,” said Raymond Yu, “Williamsburg is overpriced. Renters are fleeing to Bushwick and Sunset Park. The increase in rental is starting to level down.”

“I agree with Raymond. It depends on where you are. We have seen strong rental growth in the last 12 months,” answered Eric Wolf, “just look at Sam Zell’s sale to Starwood this week. I think this sale is very telling of the market.” Richard Froehlich added: “We are seeing a lot of supply. There is also lots of demand. People want to get in to lock in rates. Pricing is incredibly high in affordable housing as well. We are back at levels rivaling 2005, 2006 and 2007. How will this play out? All I can say is there are interesting times ahead. We are optimistic about affordable housing.”

On the question about real estate opportunities outside of Queens, Brooklyn and Manhattan, Mr. Wolf said, “We have 3 projects in Yonkers. There is high disposable income in the area but even these individuals cannot afford to live in Queens, Brooklyn or Manhattan. Their median income is around $116K. These are people in their 20s and 30s with no kids who can live in studios or 1-bedrooms. The pressure of the city is pushing people to Jersey and Westchester which presents a new opportunity. In Westchester, there are apartments close to the Metro North for people who work in the city. Rents began to fall in 2009 but from 2010 to 2013 we have seen strong growth.”

Mr. Yu commented, “We are seeing so much diversity in these areas now […] a big creative community is moving toward the Bronx and we have large players looking at the opportunities along the waterfront.”

”New York is growing dramatically. The Bronx is still the poorest borough out of the 5 but there is a frenzy out there right now in respect to land prices and the value of properties. Homelessness is a challenging topic because people are getting evicted. The market is so hot and buyers are aggressive in wanting a part of it. The administration is working hard in response to the eviction and homelessness issue coming from this activity.” said Mr. Froehlich.

Ms. Ying then delved a bit deeper into affordable housing and asked about the effects on the city, especially considering the recent Stuy Town deal. “The housing plan is addressing the rent burden. As the city becomes a better place, people become fearful about displacement. We are enormously proud of the basic agreement we reached with purchasers on Stuy Town. People are currently protected so they don’t face a rapid rent increase. The sale includes a regulatory agreement with De Blasio’s administration that ensures a block of 5,000 apartments would remain affordable for the next 20 years. If you think about it, Stuy Town was built in the late 1940s so this would ensure rents on an affordable level for almost 100 years once this plays out!” said Mr. Froehlich.

Belinda opened the discussion with the statement: “Real estate is one of the hottest investment food groups!” Turning to her panelists, she solicited their insights on deals in the market, how to unlock value in properties and how the capital stack has changed over the years. The panel also explored the pipeline of deals that have yet to hit the market, whether the pace of these deals will stay steady for 2016 and what the factors are in creating this exuberant market.

Abraham Hidary commented, “Debt markets are strong. The market was just exceptional in 2014 but up to now we have been doing really well.” Mike Nash added, “Our largest year for business has been 2015. Real estate as an investment is an excellent vehicle.” Ralph Herzka explained, “Real estate has outperformed everything else. Yields keep going down. It is just a solid investment.”

Mr. Nash pointed out that international investors will go offshore to London, Paris or New York where the market is transparent. He noted, “Real estate is a cyclical business but it pays off. It may be a slow burn but it always pays off.” He also said, “Alternative investment forms are not great. There are so many factors spurring on real estate. Where else can you put money down at 0%?”

Mr. Knakal said, “The reason there is so much activity in the market is because capital is thirsty and makes transactions easy to do. In the boom cycles of the 80’s and early 2000’s, lenders were generous with financing. Geopolitical risk around the world is pushing people to invest in NYC real estate to protect their assets. This is what creates demand for the marketplace.” Mr. Herzka added, “Smart money is what we are seeing in the capital stack. The capital stack can get aggressive but we don’t see a lot of risk in our deals. The key is to manage our clients’ expectations.” Mr. Hidary said, “We are in an efficient marketplace. We have to know the right deals and know exactly what we are looking for. Once we find what we want, we bring in brokers like Ralph. Simplicity is key when riding out a downturn.”

On the subject of what neighborhoods might be the “next big thing,” Mr. Knakal explained: “I am kind of bullish about Jamaica, Queens. It’s a remarkable place. The transport in the area is of the best in the city. Retail does well in this area. The affordable housing agenda is perfect for this part of the city. Creating the right incentives in Jamaica will make this area a diamond in the rough.” Mr. Herzka was a bit broader in his response in saying, “Just like San Francisco or even Ohio, people want the ability to walk to work. People do not want to spend their lives in commuter traffic. If we can make jobs more accessible, any neighborhood can be the next big thing. I saw a development in Delaware recently that had beautiful luxury housing. The housing and development phenomenon is not in New York only and technology is big driver in all of this.” Mr. Hidary said, “Ten years ago I would have told you the Garment District was the next big thing but right now West Chelsea is hot. This area has shown tremendous growth and has gone through 50% gentrification already. There are lifestyle hubs, gyms and restaurants. The area around Barclays in Brooklyn has also shown tremendous growth.”

Mr. Nash concluded the discussion by saying, “Formation of neighborhoods, creating cool spaces, converting something old into something new — these are things that drive growth. Areas like Brooklyn and Queens have already shown how successful doing this can be.”

On October 13th, Herrick partnered with the Office of the Bronx Borough President and The Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation, to host a trolley tour showcasing some of the new opportunities and development sites available in the Bronx. Commentary was provided by:

Wilhelm Ronda, Director, Planning & Development at The Office of the Bronx Borough President

Daniel Donovan, Planner, Bronx Borough President’s Office

Sam Goodman, Urban Planner, Bronx Borough President’s Office

The tour kicked off at the beautiful Bronx Supreme Court building at 851 Grand Concourse with a view of Yankee Stadium in the distance. The trolley then headed to a large development site that is currently up for grabs on 149th Street. Marlene Cintron expressed the need for mixed-use development in this particular area that is buzzing with shoppers and commuters. Ms. Cintron commented that BJ’s Wholesale Club, JC Penney’s and Target all have stores located in the Bronx that are among their top five performing stores nationwide. Enhancing the fast-developing neighborhood is a 250-room Hampton Inn that is the second hotel on 149th. Ms. Cintron also commented, “The Opera House Hotel has 94% occupancy and is a well-known destination for European tourists. Tourism is up 14% in the Bronx.”

“The Harlem River Waterfront District, which has the Harlem River to the West, East 149th Street to the North and the Major Deegan to the East is of particular interest to developers,” said Wilhelm Ronda who also pointed out that this development lot is near one of the first stops on the 4 train and is considered a “soft site.” Mr. Ronda explained: “Zoning is generous in this area. It is close to bridges and is a major thoroughfare. There are many opportunities here.” The Port Morris area, a primarily industrial neighborhood in the Southwest Bronx, is currently experiencing an extensive revitalization with many factories and manufacturing buildings being converted into lofts. The community has become home to young professionals and artists looking for more reasonable rent price-points outside of Manhattan and Brooklyn. The tour also passed The Grand Concourse Plaza Shopping Center on 161st Street, The Grand Concourse (modeled on the Champs-Elysees in Paris) that was declared a historic district in 2011 from 153rd to 167th Street is dotted with a mix of Art Deco and Art Moderne architecture residential buildings, and the Bruckner Boulevard Corridor that is home to the Clock Tower Building. The building, along with the surrounding area has shown tremendous growth and transformation. Rents have skyrocketed in this area in less than 7 years.

The Kingsbridge National Ice Center will be another triumph for the Bronx. The complex will be housed in the historical building once used as an armory and will feature 9 rinks. It is set to be one of the largest indoor ice-centers in the world and will attract national and international tourism bringing a significant economic boost to the area. NHL great, Mark Messier, is an investor and chief executive on the project.

The Bronx Borough President’s Office expressed enthusiasm about working with developers to continue strengthening the economic development of the Bronx. Borough President Ruben Diaz highlighted the borough’s strong sense of community and its wealth of commodities and character and encouraged those in attendance to explore the area. Investment in the Bronx remains vigorous and has been strong since 2009. Mr. Diaz welcomed developers to the Bronx and urged interested parties to work with his office on current opportunities. “We want to facilitate new development that strengthens neighborhood character and fosters overall growth of the borough.” said Mr. Diaz.

According to Sam Goodman, who was born in the Bronx and is now an Urban Planner in the office of the Bronx Borough President: “The Bronx is not a place to live, it is a place to celebrate life.” With over $7 billion dollars invested in residential, commercial and institutional projects in the borough in the last 6 years, the Bronx is now the new borough of opportunity.

Post navigation

Search ZONE Categories

Subscribe to ZONE

Attorney Advertising Disclaimer

This website and its contents may be considered attorney advertising under the rules of certain jurisdictions. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
The information and materials offered on this site are for general informational purposes only, do not constitute and should not be considered to be legal advice, and are presented without any representation or warranty whatsoever, including as to the accuracy or completeness of the information. No one should, or is entitled to, rely in any manner on any of the information at this site. Parties seeking advice should consult with legal counsel familiar with their particular circumstances.
No materials on this site may be copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, transmitted, or distributed in any way without the prior written permission of Herrick, Feinstein LLP, except that you may download one copy of the materials on a single computer for your personal, non-commercial, use only, provided you keep intact all copyright and other proprietary notices.
HERRICK, FEINSTEIN LLP DISCLAIMS ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, AND SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES WHATSOEVER. Herrick, Feinstein LLP assumes no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the content of this web site and reserves the right to change the content of this site from time to time. The Firm is not responsible for any third party content that may be accessed through or linked to this website. Any third-party links appearing on this site are provided only for your convenience.

Privacy Policy and Legal Notice

Personal information (such as email addresses and contact information) you may provide to us through our website is used by us to respond to your questions and requests for information. You may receive certain mailings relating to Herrick, Feinstein LLP or legal news updates that we think may be of interest to you. If at any time you no longer wish to receive mailings from us, please go to our "Contact Us" web page and send an email requesting that you be removed from any particular mailing list. While we reserve the right to provide anonymous, aggregated statistical user information to third party providers to improve our ability to offer meaningful web content and our website service, we do not share any personal information with any third party unless required (i) by law or legal process,(ii) to investigate and prevent fraud or illegal activity, including any misuse of this website, or (iii) to prevent harassment, abuse or invasions of privacy of our employees.
We use a third-party provider to track usage statistics and certain non-personal information including the name of your Internet service provider, the IP address of the computer you are using to access our website, the date and time you access our website and the website address from which you linked directly to our website. We do not use any cookies on our web site. No attorney-client relationship is created by our transmission of information from this site or by any communication by others to us (or to any of our attorneys, staff, employees, agents or representatives) through or in any way connected with this site. Users communicating with us (or to any of our attorneys, staff, employees, agents or representatives) are advised that we do not undertake to hold such communications or their contents in confidence and, accordingly, that they should be careful not to communicate confidential information to us. Users are further cautioned that we may represent a party directly adverse to them either now or at a later date, and that we remain free to do so notwithstanding any information which is communicated to us by the user or any other person or any solicitation of our services by the user or any other person. An attorney-client relationship between Herrick and users of this site or anyone else is created only by a written engagement letter signed by Herrick.
We reserve the right to revise our privacy policy as necessary from time to time. By using our website, you acknowledge your agreement with this policy. You therefore should check back from time to time to see if an update to this policy has been posted.